Western Australian Brett Rumford and Englishman Mark Foster will take a share of the lead into the second round of the ISPS Handa World Super 6 Perth after two opening rounds of 6-under par 66 to lead by one shot.

Foster playing in the afternoon half of the draw held the lead at 7-under before a late bogey dropped him back into a share of the lead.

Rumford has battled illness and injury in the past few years and hasn’t won since back-to-back victories in 2013. The West Australian is fighting to keep his European Tour card this season but doesn’t feel the pressure of performing in front of his home crowd.

“Every week is pretty much a a priority for me at the moment, so I’m taking every week, that opportunity to go win a tournament,” said Rumford.

“So I don’t feel pressure to win, but my focus is on purely winning every golf tournament I’m trying to get into. So it’s a bit of funny psychology a bit.”

World number 11, Sweden’s Alex Noren had a difficult day that culminated in three bogeys in his last six holes to finish 2-over the card. World Cup of Golf winner, Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen fared better and posted four birdies in his 2-under par round of 670

The unique World Super 6 Perth tournament will see the field cut to just 24 players for the final day which will see the winner decided after six rounds of six holes match play.

The format sees golfers with a slightly different mindset at Lake Karrinyup with less priority on leading than in other weeks on the European Tour.

“It’s kind of irrelevant, isn’t it, it’s top 24. Top 8 is a priority. Would be nice to have that behind the first round, but match play is a different game.” Rumford said.

“So it’s a different game and I think just getting your foot in the door is the number one priority this week regardless of how you score.”